Howe 1324 and 1344 Recording
The primary job of Student Producers is to record live classes for off-campus students. In Howe 1344 (ISU5) and Howe 1324 (ISU2) we use a combination of three cameras, each remotely-controlled from the back room, and a screen-capture program to display the instructor's computer screen. All of these sources are passed to Adobe Connect, where off-campus students can view the class in real time, and to Wirecast, where the class is recorded for future viewing on Blackboard Learn. These instructions will guide you through the entire process.
While setting up and throughout the entirety of the recording, student producers must grab a checklist from the backroom for their recording station. Each item should be checked off the list as it is completed. This is mandatory.
1. If Wirecast isn't already open, you can open from the desktop of the Encoder PC.
To keep the standard recording settings, it is important that you use the Wirecast document on the desktop and not open the program from scratch. It will be named as "USE THIS WIRECAST.wcst".
2. Click "Broadcast" in the menu bar and select "Broadcast Settings"
3. Use the "Browse..." button to choose where to save the recording.
On the desktop, there will be a folder for recording videos. Save it within the appropriate class folder.
Save it using the following naming convention: CprE543_L02.mov
Each class has its own acronym and course number.
L02 represents Lecture #2.
Wirecast will automatically add a "_0" to the end of the file when recording. Do not add this yourself.
4. Select the "Annotations" tab and change the title accordingly and click the "Save" button.
Use the following naming convention: CprE 543 Lecture 02: 08-25-11
There should be no underscores in the title.
5. Change the Broadcast Settings on the backup Frame-Grabber PC just like on the encoder.
6. If Adobe Connect is not already open, open Mozilla Firefox.
Click on Adobe Connect on the bookmarks toolbar and login as ede@iastate.edu
In the bottom left of the screen should be a chat box.
Right click on the icon in the top right of the chat box (it looks like a few horizontal lines) and select "Clear Chat".
Do not share anything from this computer.
7. Grab a new pair of batteries and go into the classroom.
8. Replace the batteries in the instructor mic.
9. If Adobe Connect is not already open, open Mozilla Firefox.
Click on Adobe Connect on the bookmarks toolbar and login as ede@iastate.edu
Enable the Microphone, Webcam and Speaker.
Click on the "Meeting" button and select "Record Meeting..." from the menu.
Name the meeting using the following convention: ME325_L03
Start sharing for both the Webcam feed and the screen.
Adobe Connect should automatically minimize after you share the screen, if you do not minimize this will interrupt the instructor's use of the desktop
10. Add your initials to the lecture log clipboard for the respective course and lecture number.
Starting the Recording
1. Click the "Record" button on the Frame-Grabber PC so that a blue arrow appears.
This backup Wirecast recording should always display the shot with both the camera and instructor computer.
2. Also on the Frame-Grabber PC, open Adobe Connect. Select "Meeting" in the top left and then "Record Meeting...".
Name the meeting using the following convention: ME325_L03
3. Click the record button on the DVD recorder (it's the little red dot)..
4. When Instructor is ready to go make sure the Wireless Mic audio knob is normal. Make sure that Camera 1 is positioned on the instructor and the CD audio knob.
There are two knobs for the wireless mics. Check the mic before the recording so you know which one to change.
5. Press the "Record" button so that a blue arrow appears on the Encoder PC, remember that in step 1 this was done on the Frame-Grabber PC.
6. Select the shot with both the instructor and presentation view, press GO.
While recording, use the joysticks to follow the instructor and the Camera Switcher to switch to either the document camera or student camera if necessary. You can also adjust audio levels using the knobs. The right side of the Wirecast window has an audio bar - try to keep it so that audio levels stay around half-way up that bar.
The student camera will automatically turn to whoever is using the student mic.
Try to keep the instructor's head at about 2/3 up the screen. If the instructor moves a lot, it may also be appropriate to zoom out so that he or she does not walk off screen before the student can react.
Ending the Recording
1. Click the "Record" button on Wirecast on the Frame-Grabber PC so that the blue arrow goes away.
2. In Adobe Connect on the backup computer, click on the red circle in the top right and click to end the recording.
The primary job of Student Producers is to record live classes for off-campus students. In Howe 1344 (ISU5) and Howe 1324 (ISU2) we use a combination of three cameras, each remotely-controlled from the back room, and a screen-capture program to display the instructor's computer screen. All of these sources are passed to Adobe Connect, where off-campus students can view the class in real time, and to Wirecast, where the class is recorded for future viewing on Blackboard Learn. These instructions will guide you through the entire process.
Setting Up to Record • Starting the Recording • Ending the Recording
Setting Up to Record
While setting up and throughout the entirety of the recording, student producers must grab a checklist from the backroom for their recording station. Each item should be checked off the list as it is completed. This is mandatory.
1. If Wirecast isn't already open, you can open from the desktop of the Encoder PC.
2. Click "Broadcast" in the menu bar and select "Broadcast Settings"
3. Use the "Browse..." button to choose where to save the recording.
4. Select the "Annotations" tab and change the title accordingly and click the "Save" button.
5. Change the Broadcast Settings on the backup Frame-Grabber PC just like on the encoder.
6. If Adobe Connect is not already open, open Mozilla Firefox.
7. Grab a new pair of batteries and go into the classroom.
8. Replace the batteries in the instructor mic.
9. If Adobe Connect is not already open, open Mozilla Firefox.
10. Add your initials to the lecture log clipboard for the respective course and lecture number.
Starting the Recording
1. Click the "Record" button on the Frame-Grabber PC so that a blue arrow appears.
2. Also on the Frame-Grabber PC, open Adobe Connect. Select "Meeting" in the top left and then "Record Meeting...".
3. Click the record button on the DVD recorder (it's the little red dot)..
4. When Instructor is ready to go make sure the Wireless Mic audio knob is normal. Make sure that Camera 1 is positioned on the instructor and the CD audio knob.
5. Press the "Record" button so that a blue arrow appears on the Encoder PC, remember that in step 1 this was done on the Frame-Grabber PC.
6. Select the shot with both the instructor and presentation view, press GO.
While recording, use the joysticks to follow the instructor and the Camera Switcher to switch to either the document camera or student camera if necessary. You can also adjust audio levels using the knobs. The right side of the Wirecast window has an audio bar - try to keep it so that audio levels stay around half-way up that bar.
Ending the Recording
1. Click the "Record" button on Wirecast on the Frame-Grabber PC so that the blue arrow goes away.
2. In Adobe Connect on the backup computer, click on the red circle in the top right and click to end the recording.
3. Press the stop button on the DVD recorder.